The darting world kicked off April with a bang in Leicester, hosting two crucial Tourcardholder Qualifiers. These events determined who would earn a coveted spot at the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen and the Austrian Darts Open in Graz. The headline news saw Germany’s Gabriel Clemens finally break his qualification drought, securing his place in Graz. However, for fellow German Max Hopp, it was a day of bitter disappointment, as he suffered two agonizing defeats in the final qualifying rounds, narrowly missing out on both prestigious tournaments. This intense day underscored the fierce competition and high stakes on the PDC European Tour.
The European Darts Grand Prix Qualifier: Sindelfingen Hopes
The first qualifier offered ten places for the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen. While no additional German-speaking players managed to qualify for this event, the day was filled with dramatic matches and close calls.
Max Hopp’s Double Heartbreak Begins
Germany’s “Maximiser” Max Hopp came agonizingly close to securing a spot for Sindelfingen. After comfortable wins, Hopp faced Dutch star Jeffrey de Zwaan in the decisive match. Despite falling behind early due to double trouble, Hopp showed resilience. De Zwaan missed six crucial darts at 4-1 up, allowing Hopp to claw back to 3-4. Hopp then had multiple chances to level the match at 4-4, but ultimately, the “Black Cobra” held his nerve to win 6-3. Hopp’s hopes now rest on being a fourth reserve, which offers only a slim chance of competing.
Pascal Rupprecht’s Brief Challenge
Another German hopeful, Pascal Rupprecht, also reached the final qualifying round after quick victories, including a dominant 6-0 whitewash against Adam Gawlas. He then faced Belgian veteran Kim Huybrechts. Rupprecht started strong, even hitting a 119 finish, but Huybrechts’ superior scoring power eventually took its toll. Despite the “Hurricane’s” own struggles on doubles, he managed to close out the match, leaving Rupprecht as a distant reserve for Sindelfingen.
Struggles for Other German-Speaking Players
The qualifier proved challenging for many other players from the German-speaking region:
- Ricardo Pietreczko, “Pikachu,” continued to find floor events tough, suffering a 6-0 whitewash against Jeffrey de Zwaan after an initial win.
- Arno Merk narrowly lost a decider against Madars Razma, potentially missing a match dart.
- Marvin Kraft impressed with a 6-4 win over Ricky Evans but then faded against Maik Kuivenhoven.
- Yorick Hofkens and Lukas Wenig also exited in the later stages.
- Early exits included Matthias Ehlers, Leon Weber, Dominik Grüllich, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, and Stefan Bellmont. Even Gabriel Clemens had a tough run, losing a deciding leg to Benjamin Pratnemer, though he secured a notable 6-3 win against Mensur Suljovic.
Germany’s Martin Schindler and Niko Springer were already pre-qualified for Sindelfingen, while local host nation qualifiers included Michael Hurtz, Paul Krohne, Michael Unterbuchner, and Robin Masino.
Who Qualified for Sindelfingen?
The ten players who successfully navigated the first qualifier for the European Darts Grand Prix included a mix of established stars and rising talents:
- Rob Cross (top seed)
- Raymond van Barneveld (showing strong form, recovering from a 1-4 deficit in his opener)
- Mickey Mansell (secured his spot in a decider against Darius Labanauskas, notably defeating Michael Smith with a 106 average)
- Jeffrey de Zwaan
- Kim Huybrechts
- Jurjen van der Velde
- Oskar Lukasiak
- Maik Kuivenhoven
- Madars Razma
- Keane Barry
The Austrian Darts Open Qualifier: Graz Glory for Clemens
The second qualifier offered another ten spots, this time for the Austrian Darts Open in Graz, and it brought a much-awaited breakthrough for one German star.
Gabriel Clemens Breaks the Jinx and Heads to Graz!
For the first time this year, “The German Giant” Gabriel Clemens successfully qualified through a Tourcardholder Qualifier! His journey to Graz began with a dominant 6-1 victory over a struggling Wesley Plaisier (98.58 average). He followed this with a solid 6-3 win against Jeffrey Sparidaans, despite a modest 81 average. The decisive match saw Clemens face rising star Beau Greaves. Greaves initially took a 2-1 lead but then squandered six crucial chances to extend it to 3-1. Clemens seized the opportunity, turning the match around with legs of 21, 15, and 17 darts. After Greaves hit a 14-darter, Clemens closed out the match on his own throw in the fifth round, securing his well-deserved spot in Graz!
Max Hopp’s Second Agonizing Miss
It was another bitter day for Max Hopp, who once again fell short in the decisive qualifying match. He controlled his earlier games against Rhys Griffin (6-4) and Connor Scutt (6-3). However, fate put him against Kim Huybrechts again, the very player who ended his Sindelfingen hopes. In a high-quality, neck-and-neck encounter, there were no breaks until 3-3, with Hopp missing three chances in the fourth leg. Hopp then lost his throw in the seventh leg and couldn’t secure an immediate re-break after missing an 87 finish. A 14-darter offered a glimmer of hope, but Huybrechts proved too strong in the fifth round, winning 6-4. As a second reserve for Graz, Hopp has a slightly more realistic chance of making it to the main draw, especially given the number of top players who often withdraw from this event.
Stefan Bellmont’s European Tour Wait Continues
Swiss player Stefan Bellmont’s quest for a European Tour debut as a Tourcardholder continued to be elusive. After six qualifiers, he still hasn’t made it. He reached the final match after comfortable wins against Benjamin Pratnemer (6-3) and Marvin Kraft (6-1). However, in a tense match against Chris Landman, Bellmont struggled with his doubles, failing to capitalize on opportunities. Landman then produced a sudden 12-darter and sealed his qualification in 15 darts. As the ninth reserve, Bellmont’s participation in Graz seems unlikely.
More Disappointment for German Players
Other German Tourcardholders also experienced frustrating defeats:
- Dominik Grüllich had a lucky 6-5 escape against Jeffrey de Zwaan but then faced a daunting 0-4 deficit against Michael Smith, eventually losing despite a comeback to 4-4.
- Pascal Rupprecht went the full distance against Tom Sykes but had more chances in his 4-6 loss to Niall Culleton.
- Arno Merk survived match darts against Oskar Lukasiak but too many missed doubles led to a 4-6 defeat against Ian White.
- Lukas Wenig secured his first win of the Leicester days against Brendan Dolan (6-4) but then lost convincingly to Chris Landman.
- Marvin Kraft’s 6-2 win over Bradley Brooks was a confidence boost, but he then struggled in a 1-6 loss to Stefan Bellmont.
- Yorick Hofkens won an all-German clash against Kai Gotthardt (6-2) but then lost 4-6 to Beau Greaves.
Matthias Ehlers, Leon Weber, and Kai Gotthardt all left Leicester without a single victory in this qualifier. Germany’s Martin Schindler, Niko Springer, and Ricardo Pietreczko were already pre-qualified for Graz, while Austrian players Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez will utilize the Host Nation Qualifier route for their home event.
Dual Success and New Faces for Graz
This qualifier saw some notable performances:
- Kim Huybrechts was the only player to achieve a double qualification, earning spots in both Sindelfingen and Graz.
- Cristo Reyes continued his strong form, qualifying for the fourth time in six attempts.
- Michael Smith secured his third qualification.
- James Hurrell earned his second spot.
- Rob Owen, Ian White, Nick Kenny, Chris Landman, and Alan Soutar all qualified for the first time in 2026.
The Leicester qualifiers delivered plenty of drama, highlighting the challenging path to the European Tour for many, but ultimately providing a well-deserved breakthrough for Gabriel Clemens and continued success for other darting stars.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
